updated 05:30 pm EDT, Thu September 25, 2008

iPhone 2.2 in beta

Apple today released iPhone 2.2 firmware into a first stage of beta testing, according to Gear Live. Background push notification is rumored to have returned in this version; Apple pulled background push from the fourth beta of v2.1, and left it out of the official release. The technology allows apps such as e-mail or instant messaging clients to receive messages, or other information, without requiring constant operation and/or draining a phone's resources.

The v2.1 update instead concentrated on maintenance issues, namely slow performance, connectivity issues and crashing software. One of the only features added to v2.1 was the Genius playlist creation system.

Users have also anticipated improved GPS functionality in v2.2, which would expand the capabilities of location-based apps by allowing them to track speed and direction. Because the update is still in beta, however, confirmed changes and additions remain to be seen.